A Little Snow Goes a Long Way!

Yesterday and today schools were closed because of the little amount of snow we got (maybe .25 inch)! However, my boys were determined to make the most of it and played outside for most of the day- with a few in and out moments for a warm-up with some hot cocoa! I was laughing as I watched them out the window with our neighbor, pulling each other down the driveway (which had very little snow on it) on snow boards. Cooper stayed inside, as he is battling yet another cough, and watched out the window. I think he was entertained and quite content just watching from the warm indoors.

Carson and Colby all bundled up

Carson and Colby looking in at Cooper (I love his little reflection smiling back at them)

Carson and Colby with our neighbor, Alexandra Benson

Another Milestone!

Today marks the one-year mark since Cooper's 2nd major surgery to remove the residual tumor. I remember quite vividly sitting in the PICU on this very night. The 2nd surgery was a lot harder on him and on us compared to the first one. I remember my heart breaking as I watched him waking up from the anesthesia in pain and them needing to do 2 blood transfusions!! I remember the large drain tubes coming out of his head and his pale skin and swollen face. Then, I look at him today and all I can do is thank God for where we have come in one year's time. I watch him crawl like a lightning bolt across the room, walk (when HE wants to), put everything (and I mean everything) in his mouth, smile, laugh, babble, and do his best to keep up with his big brothers! You would look at him and never know what the little guy has been through in his 17 months of life, aside from a faint scar in front of his ear and down his hairline, and maybe the crooked little smile because of the cut facial nerves! I am reminded of God's faithfulness to Cooper and our family and cannot put my gratitude into words.
We went to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital this morning to deliver our first 50 Cooper Trooper Caring and Courage Kits, which will be given out to siblings of children diagnosed with cancer at Vanderbilt. I felt a flood of emotions as parents were coming and going from the food court and would catch my eye. I whispered a prayer of thankfulness to God, as I was there this same time last year, NOT to deliver kits, be on the news, and interview for a newspaper article, BUT instead as a worn out, scared parent with my baby in the PICU. God is mighty to save and holds our family in HIS hands! Thank you, Lord!
My hope is to hug my boys a little tighter and live in the moment with them in 2010, because you never do know what tomorrow will hold!
Happy New Year!

This is us with Cooper's oncologist, Dr. Pine, at the delivery of our first Kits to Vanderbilt!

Dr. Pine with Cooper

Amanda, Oncology Child Life Specialist, Dr. Pine, Cooper's Oncologist, me with Cooper, Janet Cross, Director of Child Life at Vanderbilt, Rod, (Colby and Carson in front)

REJOICING!

The news came yesterday afternoon that Cooper's MRI was clear! It is so hard to put into words what you go through mentally and physically while waiting for what the results will be. It is a strange balance between trying to hope for the best and at the same time fearing the worst. The bigger picture is what I try so desperately to keep my eye on- God's faithfulness in every circumstance! I am human- just a mom worried about her baby and also a sinner who allows my mind to travel to those dark places that Satan would love to have me dwell in. Thankfully, my Father's voice of TRUTH is always there if I will just listen- even when the news is not what I want to hear about Cooper! Praise God- this time it was ALL GOOD!

Psalm 33: 20-22
"WE WAIT IN HOPE FOR THE LORD; HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD. IN HIM OUR HEARTS REJOICE, FOR WE TRUST IN HIS HOLY NAME. MAY YOUR UNFAILING LOVE REST UPON US, O LORD, EVEN AS WE PUT OUR HOPE IN YOU."

Tomorrow is the day

Tomorrow we go in the morning for Cooper's MRI. We are hoping and praying for great news! I want to believe so badly that everything is clear, but am also aching inside at the thought of what is possible. I want to enjoy the holidays without the worry of chemo or anything else. If you think about it tomorrow morning, please pray for sweet Cooper- that he will be calm in spite of being hungry as we wait for the anesthesia team, that there will be no complications with anesthesia, that the neuro-radiologist who has to read Cooper's MRI will be there, that Cooper's oncologist will be in and available to receive the report, that we will get the results quickly, and that those results will clearly show no signs of the cancer recurring. God is so good and we are believing Him for BIG things for Cooper! Thank you for thinking of us, loving us, supporting us, and most of all for praying for Coop! We will post any news we get on the "NEWS" link of the webpage.

Pizza Chefs

One of our family traditions is to have a movie/pizza/popcorn night on Friday nights. The boys love it and we are pretty consistent in keeping this routine as a family. Last Friday night the boys wanted to make their own mini-pizzas, which we have done several times before- I just never get pictures of it! I love family traditions, and also love seeing my kids take pride in something they have "made"! It was yummy pizza too!

Our Little Beaver!

We are now officially referring to Cooper as our little "beaver". He is "munching" his crib non-stop! He will even do it in the middle of the night. I kept hearing weird noises coming from his room and now I have figured it out. I have literally had to sand his crib railing to smooth it out because it was rough from where he chewed and he was getting little splinters in his lips! Our pediatrician recommended putting that thumb-sucking stuff on there because it tastes nasty, but it doesn't seem to phase him! I have been reading on line some ideas and plan to tape down some material over it tomorrow. It is CRAZY!

This is one of the sides of the crib

This is the front of his crib! He has literally chewed the the paint off- it is awful!

Here is our little beaver with his swollen lip! :(

Halloween Fun for the Young and Old!

Halloween weekend was jam-packed with lots of activities- from our Papa from Alabama visiting for the weekend, to an adult murder mystery dinner with our Community Group, to Carson's flag football game, to Fall Festival at Colby and Cooper's Mom's day out church (Franklin Christian), to our annual trick-or-treating with the neighbors! This year was great because we didn't have to buy a single costume! Everyone was content with something from our "costume closet" or a hand-me-down (it's so nice having all boys)!

Colby and Cooper with their Papa

Carson eventually got over wanting to be a hip-hop dancer and settled in on the Darth Vader costume I purchased at 75% off last year after Halloween.

Colby first wanted to be Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean (another 75% off costume from last year). However, after putting it on, decided he didn't like the dread locks hanging in his face and had a melt down so we quickly changed to Indiana Jones (which was Carson's costume last year)! I loved the Jack Sparrow on him, but it wasn't worth the fight!

Cooper was a little brown bear, which was Colby's costume from 2 years ago!

Neighborhood Fun

Mario (Thomas) and Darth Vader (Carson) with

The Disney Twins (Sarah and Katie) and Indiana Jones (Colby)

Halloween Fun for the "big kids" too!

Bunky and I were Banker Bob and Banker Bonnie in the Murder Mystery! Fun stuff

Me and the girls in our costumes..... minus Andrea!

By the way- I was at Toys-R-Us today and their Halloween costumes are 75% off! These are great for my boys to play dress up in OR to use for next year :)

I got a Baby Darth Vader, GI Joe, and Clone Trooper costumes for $5 each!!!! Love it!!